Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 43
प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा
The Division of Oṃ, Its Vedic Forms, and Its Placement in the Liṅga
तेनोमिति जगत्कृत्स्नं कुरुते प्रथमं शिवः । शिवो हि प्रणवो ह्येष प्रणवो हि शिवः स्मृतः
tenomiti jagatkṛtsnaṃ kurute prathamaṃ śivaḥ | śivo hi praṇavo hyeṣa praṇavo hi śivaḥ smṛtaḥ
ครั้นแล้ว พระศิวะทรงเปล่ง “โอม” ก่อนเป็นปฐม และทรงบังเกิดจักรวาลทั้งปวง เพราะพระศิวะแลคือปรณวะนี้ และปรณวะก็เป็นที่ระลึกว่าเป็นพระศิวะเอง.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadyojāta
Mantra: oṃ
Type: gayatri
Role: creative
Cosmic Event: sṛṣṭi-ārambha (primordial manifestation through praṇava)
FAQs
It declares that the cosmic source-sound “Om” (Praṇava) is non-different from Śiva, presenting creation as a manifestation from Śiva’s supreme vibration and pointing the seeker to meditate on Om as the doorway to realizing Pati (the Lord).
The Linga is worshipped as the sign of the formless (Niṣkala) reality becoming accessible; likewise, Om is the audible sign of that same Śiva. Thus, Saguna worship (Linga, mantra, ritual) becomes a valid means to approach the Nirguna-Supreme indicated by Praṇava.
Japa and dhyāna of Praṇava—reverently chanting “Om” (and in practice, aligning it with “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) as a Shaiva mantra-discipline to steady the mind and orient consciousness toward Śiva.